Portable radio telephone set

ABSTRACT

A portable radio telephone set provided with a display section includes a rotary selector which turns to select various functions. A menu displayed on the display section is selected by the rotary selector during a non-conversation time, and the sound volume can be adjusted during the conversation time. The adjusting operation can be performed from both the front and, the rear sides of the telephone set. The rotary selector and button keys are arranged within the operation range of the thumb, and ordinary dial functions performed by operating these rotary selector and button keys are provided.

This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/375,409,filed Jan. 18, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,912, which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 08/117,326, filed Sep. 7, 1993 nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,436,954, issued Jul. 25, 1995.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable radio terminal and, moreparticularly, to a portable radio telephone set having a folding andhousing control mechanism and a rotary selector for selecting variousfunctions provided in a hinge section for folding and housing purpose.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional portable radio telephone sets (hereinafter referred tosimply as telephone sets) are not only provided with ordinary telephonefunctions, but also with an electronic telephone directory function bywhich telephone numbers and names can be registered, a help function forguiding various functions, an incoming call tone selection function forselecting incoming call tone, and the like, thus being formed as amulti-functional terminal. The conventional portable radio telephone setuses function buttons in order to select such functions. The operationof some terminals has been made easier by making the shape of functionbuttons different from that of the dial buttons.

When, for example, the electronic telephone directory function is used,first a telephone set user operates a function button for the electronictelephone directory function in order to call a telephone number storedin the electronic telephone directory onto a display section of theportable radio telephone set. Then, the telephone set user operates afunction button for selecting the telephone number and a function buttonfor scrolling the registered telephone numbers in order to call thewanted telephone number shown on the display section from amongtelephone numbers registered in the electronic telephone directory. Whenthe wanted telephone number is confirmed on the display section by theabove operation, the user operates a function button for starting aconversation in order to call the other party.

Though the conventional portable radio telephone set ismulti-functional, the operation procedure thereof is complex for a userwhen the series of operations described above is considered.Furthermore, there is the possibility that the greater the number ofbuttons, the greater the chances that a button may be depressederroneously when the button arrangement of a present portable radiotelephone set is considered.

That is, in view of the complexity of such an operation procedure, it isnot easy, as regards a conventional telephone set in which functions areselected by function buttons, to operate various buttons with only onehand while holding the telephone set itself in the same hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a telephone setwhich makes it possible to easily perform various operations requiredparticularly for conducting a radio telephone conversation with one handwhile the telephone set itself is being held by the same hand.

It is another object of the present invention to simplify the procedurefor selecting or operating a plurality of functions of the telephoneset.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide amulti-functional telephone set, the number of buttons thereof beingreduced as much as possible.

To achieve the above-described objects, a portable radio telephone setin accordance with the present invention is provided, which portableradio telephone set has a display section, comprising a rotary selectorwhich turns to select various functions. A menu of various functionsdisplayed on the display section is selected when the rotary selector isoperated during a non-conversation time, sound volume can be adjustedduring a conversation time, the adjusting operation can be performedfrom both the front and rear sides of the telephone set. The rotaryselector and button keys are arranged within the operation range of thethumb, and thus ordinary dial functions, performed by operating therotary selector and the button keys, are provided.

According to the present invention, since the rotary selector isprovided as a telephone terminal, it is possible to easily select adesired function of the telephone terminal with one hand by rotating theselector.

Also, according to the present invention, since the rotary selector isprovided in a hinge section of a telephone terminal which is foldable sothat it can be housed, it is possible to select a desired function ofthe telephone terminal by rotating the rotary selector.

Since the rotary selector is provided in the hinge section of thetelephone terminal which is foldable so it can be housed, the hingesection can be of any size, and the mechanical strength of the hingesection is increased. The provision of the rotary selector results in areduction number of key buttons for performing multiple functions, orthe like, making it possible to more effectively use the space where thetelephone set is arranged.

Also, by arranging the rotary selector provided in the terminal so as tobe rotatable and slidable along the shaft of the hinge, the rotaryselector can be used as a cursor. Further, by moving the cursor on thedisplay section up and down, or from side to side in linkage with therotary selector in this way, various functions of a portable telephoneset can be performed, and it is made easy to perform an operation withone hand.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention willmore fully appear from the following detailed description when the sameis read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to beexpressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a portableradio telephone set in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the portableradio telephone set shown in FIG. 1 is used while it is held with onehand;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the portableradio telephone set is used during a radio conversation state as it isseen from the outer side (the rear side) thereof;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a one-hand operation method in a state inwhich the radio telephone set is held with one hand;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of a joint portion of the radiotelephone set in accordance with the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the joint portion and the receiverportion of the radio telephone set, a display section, and the like;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, partly in cross section, illustrating astate in which the radio telephone set is folded so it is housed;

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating a method for controlling the positionof a cursor by operating the dials of the radio telephone set inaccordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a selection of various functions by usingthe rotary selector of the radio telephone set.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained belowwith reference to the accompanying drawings of FIG. 1 through FIG. 9.

The appearance of a telephone set in accordance with the presentinvention will be explained first. FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective theoverall appearance of the main body of the telephone set when the foldedstate thereof is released and it is placed in a use state. In this case,a receiver section 1 and a display section 2 are freely flexed andengaged with each other via a hinge 5. These sections are engaged withan operation section 4 via a joint portion 3 by which the telephone setis folded and rotated so as to be housed. A receiver (speaker foroutputting received voice sound) 6 is provided in the central portion ofthe receiver section 1. When this receiver is brought into contact withthe ear of a party (user) during a radio telephone conversation, a voicesound from the other party is heard. Since, as shown in the figure, thehinge 5 is flexed to form a V shape, it is easy to operate the telephoneset during the radio telephone conversation state. The joint portion 3maintains the state in which the telephone set is rotated after the mainbody of the telephone set is folded and housed, that is from the usestate, and is provided with a selector 8 for selecting functions, arotation operation mechanism, and a push-button 9. A set button 11 forstoring/retrieving and inputting/outputting information, a callorigination (re-origination) button 12 for starting a conversation, aten-key portion 13, and a termination button 14 for terminating aconversation are provided in the operation section 4, a microphone 10being contained in the front end portion of the main body. With thisconstruction, when a radio telephone conversation function is selectedby the selector 8, a telephone set user brings the receiver 6 intocontact with the ear, and the user's mouth is brought close to themicrophone 10 as in a handset of a conventional telephone set, a radiotelephone conversation with the other party then being conducted.Keyed-in information and necessary information from among storedinformation are called and displayed on a liquid-crystal display screen7 disposed in the central portion of the display section 2.

FIG. 2 illustrates a state in which the telephone set is being usedwhile it is held by one hand (the left hand in this embodiment). Thetelephone set user grasps both end portions of the joint portion 3between the thumb "a", and the forefinger "b". The push-button 9 isdepressed by the thumb "a" in order to rotate the display section 2 andthe receiver section 1 via the joint portion 3, thereby shifting thestate of the telephone set from the state in which it is folded andhoused to a stable use state. Since the main body of the telephone setis basically held by the thenar "c" and the remaining three fingers "d",an accident, such as the main body of the telephone set falling from thehand, does not occur even if the thumb "a" and the forefinger "b" areseparated from the main body of the telephone set. Therefore, if themain body of the telephone set is held as shown in FIG. 2, the telephoneset user can operate the selector 8 and various operation buttons on theoperation section 4 with the thumb "a" while simultaneously confirming adisplay on the liquid-crystal display screen 7.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the portable radio telephone set as itis seen from the outer side (the rear side) thereof, illustrating astate in which the radio telephone set is used during a radio telephoneconversation. As shown in FIG. 3, the forefinger "b" is separated fromone end of the joint portion 3, and the selector 8 is operated by theforefinger "b". As a result, the selector 8 can be operated by the thumb"a" from the inner surface thereof, and also by the forefinger "b" fromthe outer surface thereof.

Therefore, the selector 8 is provided in the joint portion 3 so as toselect various functions (to be specific, call origination/reception,telephone number, secrecy, input, output, storage, calculation, time,remote control, schedule, call, clear, calendar, dictionary, map,characters, numerals, or the like) during a non-radio telephoneconversation time, and so as to function to adjust the volume of thereceived voice sound during a radio telephone conversation time. Theselector 8 is provided in such a way that the selector 8 is rotatableand can be operated from both the inner and outer surfaces.

FIG. 4 illustrates a one-hand operation method in a state in which theradio telephone set is held with one hand. As shown in the figure, inthe main body of the telephone set, the right and left ends of theoperation section 4 are held by the thenar "c" and the three fingers"d". If the push-button 9 is depressed by the thumb "a", the folded andhoused telephone set can be shifted to a stable use state, i.e., a radiotelephone conversation state, by rotating the receiver section 1 and thedisplay section 2 via the joint portion 3.

An example of a case in which a radio telephone conversation isconducted in this use state will be explained. First, the telephone setuser selects by using the selector 8 a list display function (onefunction of the telephone set) for displaying a list of names and theirtelephone numbers. The available selection methods include a method inwhich a list of functions is displayed beforehand on the liquid-crystaldisplay screen 7 and a cursor which is moved in linkage with therotation of the selector 8 or the like is moved up and down to identifyany one of the functions, a method in which the selector itself isprovided with a change-over switch corresponding to multiple functions,the selector being switched to select any one of the functions. Thefunctions can be more easily selected by using the selector 8 inaddition to the key buttons. Next, a list of the prestored names andtheir telephone numbers is displayed on the liquid-crystal displayscreen 7, and a wanted telephone number is retrieved by scrolling thedisplay screen using the selector 8. In the above display and retrievalmethod, only the selector 8 needs to be operated. As a result, anoperation for switching the selector 8 at a thumb position "f" ispossible. Further, when the telephone number of the other party isconfirmed, a set button 11 is depressed at a thumb position "g", and acall origination (re-origination) button 12 is operated, allowing aradio telephone conversation to start. When the radio telephoneconversation is terminated, a termination button 14 is depressed at athumb position "i" in order to complete the series of operationsnecessary for conducting a radio telephone conversation. That is, therange in which the liquid-crystal display screen 7 can be visuallyconfirmed and in which the thumb "a" can be moved to operate theselector 8, the call origination (re-origination) button 12, and thetermination button 14 is assumed to be the range defined by the brokenlines A and B shown in the figure. In this range, necessary operationscan be performed by the thumb "a". In other words, this range is a rangein which the thumb "a" is rotated, turned, moved back and forth, andbent in a combined manner at a joint "e" about the base of a human'sphalanx in the thumb "a". Therefore, when the selector 8 and variousbuttons required for a radio conversation are arranged in the rangedefined by the broken lines A and B, since the selector 8 and thebuttons are operated with one hand, the ease with which the telephoneset is operated with one hand is enhanced.

An example in which these various functions are selected by the selector8 will now be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 9. Whenthe telephone set is opened for use from the state in which it is housedbecause the push-button 9 is depressed by the thumb "a", the powersupply is turned on, and the initial screen appears on theliquid-crystal display screen 7, on which screen date, time, and thelike are displayed. When the set button 11 is depressed, a functionscreen appears on the display screen 7. The displayed function settingand the memory dial are cursor-moved by turning the selector 8. Then, afunction is selected, and the function is determined by operating theset button 11.

When a function setting is selected in such function selection,functions "Set/Release", "Select", "Adjust", "Command input" and"Display only" are successively displayed as a result of the turning ofthe selector 8, making scrolling retrieval possible and allowing theseselected functions to be confirmed. When these functions are selectedand set by the set button 11, call origination restriction is set orreleased in "Set/Release", turning on/off of number announcement isselected by the cursor movement caused by the turning of the selector 8and determined by the set button 11, and the screen returns to theinitial screen. When the function "Select" is selected and set, theselectable range of ringing tone quality is displayed, and it ispossible to select the tone quality by turning the selector 8 whiledisplaying the current situation. After the tone quality is determinedby the set button 11, the screen returns to the initial screen. When thefunction "Adjust" is selected and set, the selectable range of thereceiver tone volume is displayed, and it is possible to select the tonevolume by turning the selector 8 while displaying the current situationAfter the receiver tone volume is determined by the set button 11, thescreen returns to the initial screen. When the function "Command input"is selected and set, a display screen for inputting four digits of apersonal identification number appears, making it possible to input thenumber by using the buttons of the ten-key section 13. The number is setby the set button 11 after it is input, and the screen returns to theinitial screen. When the function "Display only" is selected and set,the amount of the remaining memory of the memory dial is displayed, andthe screen returns to the initial screen.

When the memory dial is selected in the function selection, "Store","Update", and "Clear are" displayed on the display screen 7 are set bythe selector 8 as a result of the turning thereof, and set by the setbutton 11, making it possible to proceed to the subsequent functions.

Although in the above-described operation, functions are determined bythe set button 11, the selector 8 may be moved axially so as to have thesame functions as those of the set button 11 as in a joystick 29 (FIG.5) which will be described later. In such a case, the ease with whichthe telephone set is operated with one hand is enhanced even more.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the joint portion 3 of the radiotelephone set in accordance with the present invention. The jointportion 3 is formed of a case 15 and a button shaft 19 is and fixed tothe operation section 4. A boss shaft 16 is formed in the central endsurface portion of the case 15, and the boss shaft 16 and a hollowflange 18 are rotatably engaged with each other. Similarly, a sleeveshaft 22 is formed in the button shaft 19, and the sleeve shaft 22 and asleeve flange 20 are rotatably engaged with each other. The rotatablehollow flange 18 and the sleeve flange 20 are fixed by a chassis 17which is stably fixed inside the display section 2. In this way, theoperation section 4 and the display section 2 are freely engaged witheach other in such a way that they can be folded on one another via thejoint portion 3.

The push-button 9 can be movably inserted into the end surface of thebutton shaft 19. A shank 23 formed on the push-button 9 is slidablyfitted into the inside of the sleeve shaft 22. A stopper piece 24 isdisposed on the shank 23 is engaged with notches 25 and 26 formed in theend surfaces of the sleeve shaft 22 and the sleeve flange 20. As aresult, the rotation of the sleeve flange 20 is stopped, andconsequently the rotation of the display section 2 is stopped stably.The notch 26 of the sleeve shaft 22 does not allow the engagement of thestopper piece 24 to be released for the maximum axial stroke of thepush-button 9. In contrast, the engagement of the notch 25 of the sleeveflange 20 can be released and freely rotated. The notch 25 of the sleeveflange 20 is formed at an open position where the telephone set is beingused and at a housing position (not shown) where it is folded andhoused.

Further, a torsion coil spring 21 is disposed inside the case 15. Oneend of the torsion coil spring 21 is connected and fixed to the case 15,and the other end thereof is extended from the case 15 and engaged witha spring hole formed in the hollow flange 18. As a result, if thepush-button 9 is depressed, the stopper piece 24 releases the stoppageat the notch 25 (not shown) when it is housed, and the elastic force ofthe torsion coil spring 21 is released, causing the hollow flange 18 torotate. Therefore, the receiver section 1 and the display section 2 arerotated, becoming ready for use.

Since some elastic force still remains in the torsion coil spring 21 inthe above connection in the use state, a rotational force is givencontinuingly in the direction in which the remaining elastic force isreleased. This mean that unwanted jarring, which may occur when thetelephone set is used, is prevented by the rotational force thereof.

Further, when a selector shaft 28 engaging with the selector 8 movesalong the axis thereof when the mechanical position thereof is read, thestroke stops at the end surface of the shank 23 so as to serve as astopper. The press fitting between the shank 23 and a shaft 27 is notreleased by such an operation force acting on the selector shaft 28. Theselector shaft 28 and the shaft 27 are able to slide axially and turnaround the shaft thereof on one shaft. The shaft 27 is supported so asto be slidable and turnable inside the selector shaft 28, and the otherend reaches the joystick 29. Further, the selector shaft 28 extendsclose to the center of the joint portion 3, and the selector 8 ispress-fitted to the end. The selector 8 is able to smoothly slideaxially and turn around the shaft thereof without contacting othercomponents.

Next, the joystick 29 will be explained. Disposed inside the joystick 29are a power-supply switch (not shown) working with the shaft 27, avolume control (for adjusting the receiver tone volume) which operatesin response to the movement of the selector shaft 28, a sensor (forselecting functions), and the like. Examples of the sensor are amechanical sensor, an electrical sensor, or an optical sensor. In short,the sensor detects the rotational position of the selector shaft 28 thesliding operation along the rotational shaft, and sends a signal to theliquid-crystal display screen 7 so that function selection/setting shownin FIG. 9 is performed and the screen is switched. Examples of methodsperformed by the power-supply switch are a method in which the positionof the selector shaft is detected by the sensor and the power supply isturned on/off, and a method in which simply one end of the selectorshaft 28 and the surface which the one end contacts are formed into anelectrical contact point, and it is made to work with the depressing ofthe push-button 9. If the turning on/off of the push-button 9 is made towork in linkage with the turning on/off of the power-supply switch as inthese methods, the telephone set user depresses the push-button 9 inorder to make the telephone set in a folded and housed state shift to ause state, the power supply of the telephone set can be turned on,making it unnecessary to provide a key button exclusively used for thepower-supply switch in the operation section 4. More specifically, whenthe telephone set is shifted to a state in which it is placed in a usestate from the folded and housed state, the power supply of thetelephone set can be inevitably turned on without operating a key buttonexclusively used for the power supply. The sensor inside the joystick 29works not only with the selector shaft 28, but also with the operationof the function button in the operation section 4, and functions can beselected from the operation section 4.

The functions selected in this way reach a display processing circuit(not shown) via a cord E, and various displays necessary for performingthe functions are made. Although in the embodiment the selector 8 worksfor controlling the position of a cursor, a selector exclusively usedfor controlling the position of the cursor, in addition to the selector8, may be disposed near the selector 8.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the joint portion 3, the receiversection 1, and the display section 2. As shown in the figure, thedisplay section 2 is able to turn along a slide ring 30 which serves asa part of the joint portion 3 fixed to the operation section 4. Insidethe display section 2, one end of a fine slide pin 31 is always pressedagainst and built onto the slide ring 30. The other end of the slide pin31 is rotatably engaged with a hinge piece 32 which works with the hinge5 by which the junction between the display section 2 and the receiversection 1 is made flexible. An elastic spring 33 is fixed to the hingepiece 32, and the other end is fixed to a spring seat 34 formed insidethe receiver section 1 As shown in the figure, the receiver section 1stabilizes at the flex position as indicated by the solid line by theaction of the elastic spring 33. When an unnecessary force acts on thereceiver section 1, since the receiver section 1 is turned as indicatedby the broken line, the telephone set itself is protected, and thereceiver section 1 contacts the user's ear with elastic propertiesduring a non-radio telephone conversation. Thus, received voice can beheard in a satisfactory mannar. When the telephone set is folded andhoused, the receiver section 1 and the display section 2 are folded viathe joint portion 3 as indicated by the broken line. Since, at thattime, the slide pin 31 engages with a notch 35 of the slide ring 30,formed at the position at which the telephone set is housed, thereceiver section 1 and the display section 2 are folded stably. At thefolded time, the hinge piece 32 which works with the slide pin 31 isretracted into the display section 2. Therefore, the receiver section 1,which is flexed with respect to the display section 2 is flexed to astate in which it is aligned linearly so as to be along the displaysection 2.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, partly in cross section, illustrating astate in which the telephone set is folded so as to be housed. As shownin the figure, since the slide pin 31 built into the display section 2is engaged with the notch 35 formed in a part of the outer periphery ofthe joint portion 3 (equivalent to the slide ring 30), the telephone setis stably folded and housed. In this folded and housed state, if thepush-button 9 is operated, the receiver section 1 and the displaysection 2 are turned for use, and the slide pin 31 is slidingly releasedfrom the notch 35. As a result, the receiver section 1 is flexed withrespect to the display section 2.

Finally, controlling the position of the cursor by using the selector 8will be explained. FIG. 8 illustrates a method for controlling theposition of the cursor. As shown in the figure, the selector 8, disposedin the joint portion 3, is used to update the position of the noticeddisplay on the liquid-crystal display screen 7, i.e., the position of acursor 37. When that position is updated, the thumb "a" is operated atwill from side to side in the direction of the arrow A or up and down inthe direction of the arrow B in a state in which the thumb "a" contactsat a position "j" on the selector 8. That is, when the selector 8 is ina free state, the selector 8 stabilizes while maintaining clearances 36aand 36b of the same size toward the right and left, respectively. Theoperation using the thumb "a" in the direction of the arrow A changesthe size of these clearances 36a and 36b. This change is sensed by asensor inside the above-mentioned joystick 29. If, for example, theselector 8 is operated to the right, the cursor 37 is moved to the righton the liquid-crystal display screen 7. If the thumb "a" is releasedfrom the selector 8, the selector 8 is automatically made to return tothe central position. The upward and downward operation of the selector8 by using the thumb "a" causes the selector 8 to rotate up and down.The direction and the amount of the rotation at that time is sensed bythe knob or sensor inside the joystick 29, and the cursor 37 moves upand down on the liquid-crystal display screen 7. What is meant by"sensed by the knob" here is that the amount of the rotation of theselector 8 is determined by voltage, current or the like correspondingto the knob. When a selector exclusively used for controlling theposition of the cursor, in addition to the selector 8, is disposed nearthe selector 8, the selector exclusively used for controlling theposition of the cursor is similarly operated, controlling the positionof the cursor 37. Therefore, if the cursor 37 is moved successively to adesired position, for example, in a condition in which all necessarycharacters, numerals, symbols or the like are displayed on theliquid-crystal display screen 7, characters or the like at a movedposition are sequentially selected as input subjects, and processed.When the set button 11 is operated on the operation section 4 in acondition in which, for example, the cursor 37 is moved to a desiredcharacter position, a list of names and telephone numbers can bedisplayed in part on the upper portion of the liquid-crystal displayscreen 7. Up to the present time, desired character strings or the likehave been formed solely by operations of ten-keys for a necessary numberof times. The operations are troublesome and complex, and keyprocessing, requiring a great number of operations, is necessary.However, when display processing is performed as described above, suchinconveniences as described above are reduced.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, as describedabove, since the rotary selector is disposed in the hinge section of atelephone set which is folded so as to be housed, the hinge section ismade to have a desired size so that the mechanical strength of the hingesection can be increased. Since the provision of the rotary selectorresults in a reduction of key buttons for performing multiple functions,there is an advantage in that the space where the telephone set isarranged can be effectively used.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, there is anadvantage in that by using the rotary selector disposed in a terminal,no key buttons exclusively used for controlling the cursor are needed,and the operation with one hand is made easier.

In addition, according to the embodiment of the present invention, thenumber of necessary key buttons can be reduced since the portabletelephone set is provided with a rotary selector, and key buttons and adisplay of the most appropriate size can be arranged in a telephone setof the most appropriate size. Furthermore, when the rotary selector isdisposed in the hinge section of a folding type portable telephone set,the space where the rotary selector is disposed can be reduced.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, since a rotaryselector is disposed in the telephone set, it is possible to easilyperform various operations necessary, in particular, for conducting aradio telephone conversation with the fingers of one hand while thetelephone set itself is being held with the same hand.

Many different embodiments of the present invention may be constructedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Itshould be understood that the present invention is not limited to thespecific embodiment described in this specification. To the contrary,the present invention is intended to cover various modifications andequivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of theclaims. The following claims are to be accorded the broadestinterpretation, so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalentstructures and functions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable radio telephone set comprising:anoperation section, having a plurality of button keys; a microphone; adisplay section for displaying a menu of telephone functions; an outputsection for outputting received voice messages; a telephone case housingsaid operation section, said microphone, said display section, and saidoutput section, and having a front side with said button keys, saidmicrophone said display section, and said output section thereon, andhaving a rear side; and a rotary selector member having an axis, andmounted on said telephone case for rotary movement about said axis, toselect a telephone function from the menu displayed on said displaysection, and for linear movement with respect to said axis, to activatethe selected telephone function.
 2. A portable radio telephone set asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said rotary selector member is positioned topermit operation thereof by a user's thumb.
 3. A portable radiotelephone set comprising:a key panel section having a plurality ofbutton keys for controlling operation of said telephone set; a displaysection for displaying a menu of telephone functions; a telephone casehousing said key panel section and said display section and having afront side with said button keys and said display section thereon andhaving a rear side; and a selector member having an axis, and mounted onsaid telephone case for rotary movement about said axis, to select atelephone function from the menu displayed on said display section, andfor linear movement with respect to said axis, to activate the selectedtelephone function.
 4. In a portable radio telephone set including anoperation section having a plurality of button keys thereon, a displaysection for displaying a menu of telephone functions, a receiver sectionfor receiving and outputting received voice messages, and a selectormember for selecting and activating functions for said portable radiotelephone set from the menu displayed on said display section, theimprovement wherein said selector member is a rotary selector memberhaving an axis, said rotary selector member being rotatable about saidaxis to select a function from the menu and being movable linearly withrespect to said axis to activate the selected function.